Time

Time (blog)

I find the concept of time fascinating. It is a gift that we don’t appreciate as much as we should, at least I know I don’t. God has created us to be infinite beings, with only a short period of time here on earth. We spend a lot of energy trying to make this time on earth meaningful and fruitful. Many of us forget to work on the infinite. And, ultimately that is the only thing that matters.

I have always been a fan of Ecclesiastes, a book written by King Solomon at the peak of his reign. Some people find it a bit morbid, but to me it’s quite realistic. He is the wisest and richest man in the world…something that we are told to aspire to…and he writes about the futility of it all. We can strive as humans, trying to achieve something…whatever it is that we are after. When it comes down to the basics, everything we do is just “dust in the wind.” God has seen the beginning and the end of time, so no matter what we do is already done.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, “For everything there is an appointed time, a time for every matter under heaven: a time to bear and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to root up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain in his toil? I have seen the business God gives to humans to preoccupy them. He has made everything suitable in its time. He also has put the past in their hearts, yet no one can grasp what God does from the beginning to the end. So I realized that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy themselves during their lives. And for anyone to eat and drink, that is, to enjoy the fruit of all his toil this also is a gift of God. I know everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it, for God so acts that humans might stand in awe before him. What is—it already was, and what will be—it already is, for God will do what he has done.”

This isn’t meant to be depressing. For me it’s a comfort, knowing that it is all in God’s hands. We can stress about this short period of time on earth, or we can choose to enjoy life. Enjoy what we have and the people we have in it. We are here to advance God’s kingdom on earth, and to enjoy the journey while we do it. Life is good. Even in the hard times it is good to remember that it is all in His hands. He knows our future. I only need to know where I will spend eternity. Life on earth is just a test of my faithfulness and endurance. I will enjoy every minute, with the knowledge of what is ahead for me.